Seaming head for non-circular cans



Oct. 6, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,

SEAMING HEAD FOR NON-CIRCULAR CANS Filed 0ct. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 B-PF JONJk Oct. 6, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,

SEAMING HEAD FOR NON-CIRCULAR CANS Filed Oct. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,907,293

, SEAMING HEAD FOR NON-CIRCULAR CANS Filed Oct. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ZIZTQKNE'Y W/u/AM RAW/650M71 Oct. 6, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR

SEAMING HEAD FOR NON-CIRCULAR CANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 9, 1956 INVENTOR.

M/ILLIAM Bfqrswv J/E. BYQ

Unite Claims. (Cl. '11324) SEAMING HEAD This invention relates to a new head for non-circular cans. I

- In conventional seamers for non-circular cans there and improved seaming I is'provided in each seaming head a pair of first operation seaming rolls and a pair of second operation seaming rolls. During the cycle of operation, the first operation rolls are brought into contact with the periphery of the can end until part of the double seaming operation is completed, whereupon the first operation seaming rolls are withdrawn from contact with the can end. Thereafter the second operation rolls are brought into contact until the seam is completed. Each of the two seaming operations curls the canend and can flange inwardly and hence reduces the periphery of the can and can end as the seaming operation progresses. In conventional seamers, the means provided for the required functions iscom'plicated and requires constant maintenance. The present invention provides a simple mechanism inthe seaming head whereby to each seaming roll a controlled inward movement is providedfrom the commencement of its operation to the termination thereof, and which requires a minimum of maintenance.

More particularly the present invention has for its principal objects and advantages the controlled, positive, inward movement of each seaming roll to compensate for the reduction in the periphery of the can end as each seaming operation progresses. Such movement is accomplished by the combined operation of two sets of cams and a short lever for each roll. One cam, denomihated the forming cam, conforms the seaming rolls to the shape of the can. The other set of came controls thesequential movement of the first and second operation seaming rolls. The short lever mounting of the seaming roll shaft accomplishesthe inward movement as the operation progresses.

One of the principal features of the invention is the fact that there is provided a solid leverage system between the forming cam and the seaming roll consisting of two arms on opposite ends of the shaft and a lever for moving the shaft inwardly and outwardly. One arm carrying the forming cam follower roller is attached to one end of the shaft and a lower arm carrying the seaming roll is attached to the other end of the arm. A short lever moves the vertical axis of the shaft as hereinafter described. Accordingly the present invention eleminates the sliding elements and springs which are commonly used in other seaming heads for the same purpose.

Af further advantage of the solid leverage system hereinafter described is the fact that irregularities in the can shape are converted into torque on the shaft and thus the inequalities are cushioned by the torsional springlike nature of the shaft.

Still another feature of the leverage construction hereinafter described is the fact-that the bearing loads are balanced, thereby eliminating excessive wear of the bearing bushings.

One of the advantages of the present invention is the States Patented Oct. 6, 1959 fact that the work of seaming tends to push'the seaming cam rollers against their cams, thus improving the quality of the seam produced. j

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan vew of a seaming head in which the present invention is incorporated; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away in section substantially along the line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view as viewed from ;Fig.' 8 isa fragmentary vertical sectional view taken ubstantially along line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a seaming roll, chuck, can and can end showing commencement of the first seaming operation as occurs approximately at position X shown on Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 shows the commencement of the second seaming operation, as occurs approximately at the point marked Y on Fig. 4; and

I Fig. 11 shows the completion of the seaming operation as occurs approximately at the point marked Z on Fig. 4. 1 v

It will be understood that the can-seaming machine in which the present invention is incorporatedisa complex machine having numerous parts which are omitted from the drawings and the following description for the, sake of brevity. Such a machine, as is well understood by those skilled in the can-seaming art, comprises a revolving muIti pocket turret, each pocket having aseamin'g head structure, the structures being substantially identical," and trated and described.

the mechanism for only one pocket being herein illus- Open end non-circular, flanged cans 11 on which an end 12 or cover has" been deposited are sequentially fed into each pocket at one station in the machine as the turret revolves continuously. The can and can end are lifted by conventional means until the endand can are clamped tightly together and held by a chuck 13. Thereafter the seaming operation which is the subject of the invention and the mechanism for the performance of which are hereinafter described in detail, is carried out. After the end 12 is seamed onto can 11, the can is loweredrout of engagement with chuck 13 and then discharged at a discharge station.

Each head employs a hollow, vertical spindle 16. Chuck 13, is attached to the lower end of spindle 16 by means of screws 17 recessed into the bottom face of the chuck and threaded into tapped holes 18 in the bot depending upon the shape of the can which it is desired to'close. Chuck 13 is centrally apertured and through the aperture therein is projectable a knockout rod 19 which passes up through the hollow center of spindle 3 16 and terminates in a head 21. Rod 19 is biased upwardly by means of coil spring 22. At the completion of. the seaming operation head 21 and rod 19 are depressed by means well understood in this art to remove the seamed can from the chuck.

Spindle 16 is mounted in upper housing 23 by means of adjusting sleeve 25 and supported in lower housing 30 by the inside surface of bushing 26. Surrounding spindle 16 is an inner sleeve 27 and surrounding inner sleeve 27' is an outer sleeve 28. Bearing 29 is interposed between spindle 16 and inner sleeve 27 to permit rapid. relative rotation of the two parts. Bearing 31 is interposed between upper housing 23 and outer sleeve 28. Within upper housing 23 the upper end of inner sleeve 27 is provided with a first gear 32 and the upper end of outer sleeve 28 is provided with a second gear 33. An annular spacer ring 34 is interposed between the two gears and secured to the second gear by means of pin 36. It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the pitch diameter of second gear 33 is slightly smaller than that of first gear 32 and thus outer sleeve 28 is turned faster than inner sleeve 27. Gears 32 and 33 are so dimensioned that in one cycle of operation sleeve 28 moves relative to sleeve 27 180.

The lower end of outer sleeve 28 is provided with an annular outward extension 24. For assembly purposes, lower housing 30 is bolted to extension 24 by bolts 30. The lower end of inner sleeve 27 is tongued, as indicated by reference numeral 27 to engage the upper end of the cam bearing sleeve 37 which is provided with an-upper externalfirst operation seaming cam 38 and a lower external second operation seaming cam 39. The outer surface of upwardly extending bushing 26 acts as a bearing for the inner surface of sleeve 37. Actually cams38 and 39 are double cams in that their shapes are repeated each 180 because of the fact that sleeve 28 moves but 180 relative to sleeve 27 per cycle. Cams 38 and 39 cause the first operation and the second operation seaming rollers 41 and 42, respectively, to operate sequentially, as hereinafter explained. On the lower end of upper housing 23 there is positioned a cam plate 43 which is also'a change part of the machine and is fastened to housing 23 by means of screws 44 and located by pin 46. Cam plate 43 comprises two cams, a box cam 47 which, as hereinafter described in detail, primarily operates to actuate a slave cam roller 48 and a second cam 49 which governs the form or shape of the seam and actuates cam follower roller 51. Thus the shape of cams 47 and 49 is designed to control the movement of seaming rolls 41 and- 42' inorder to follow the profile of cans 11 of a particular shape.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there. are two diametrically opposed first operation seaming rolls 41 andrtwo diametrically opposed second operation seaming rolls 42. Each roll is rotatively mounted on upwardly extending stub shaft 52 which is rotatably received in the outer end of first or lower arm .53 and held in place by screw 55 (Fig. 8). The inner end of lower arm 53 is non-rotatably mounted on the lower end of shaft 54 by horseshoe snap ring retainer 56 fitting in groove 57 adjacent the end of shaft 54. In order to permit adjustment of the position of rolls 41 or 42, the inner end of arm 53 is bifurcated and clamp screw 58'extends through one of the bifurcations and is threaded into a tapped hole in the other. When screw 58 is loosened, the angular position of arm 53 may be adjusted by means of adjustment screws 59 bearing against flat 61 on shaft 54 and held in place by check screw 62, all as well understood in the art.

The'upper end 50 of shaft 54 is splined and carries a second or upper arm 66 likewise bifurcated at its inner end and secured to shaft 54 by means of clamp screw 67. The outer end of upper arm 66 carries pin '68. held in place by screw 65, and slave cam follower roller48 and cam follower roller 51 are rotatably mounted on pin 68 above arm 66 with a spacer bearing 69 interposed between the two rollers. Upper roller 48 engages the outer edge 71'of box cam 47 and lower roller 51 engages cam 49. As the seaming head revolves about stationary cam plate 43, cam 49 causes roller follower 51 to impart an oscillatory movement to shaft 54 dependent upon the shape of cam 49, which movement is in turn imparted to seaming roll 41 or 42.

Shaft 54 extends through irregularly shaped seaming cam lever 76 and is rotatably mounted therein by means of bushings 77. Lever 76 is in turn mounted in extension 24 on outer sleeve 28 and lower housing 30 by a pair of circular bushings 78, but it will be understood that the axis of rotation 79 of circular bushings 78 is eccentric to the axis of rotation 81 of shaft 54 and this eccentricity (the maximum of which is indicated in Fig. 4 by reference numeral 81 performs an important function in the operation of the device. Outward pro,- jections on lever 76 at top and bottom assist in locating lever 76 in position.

Assuming that particular roll 42 is a second operation roll, as shown in Fig. 2, a bifurcated inward extension 82 is formedon lever 76, which carries a cam follower roller 83 by means of pin 84 at the level of second operation cam 39. Assuming, on the contrary, that seaming roller 41 under consideration is a first operation roller 41, the bifurcated extension 82 on lever 76 is at a higher elevation and the follower roller 83 thereupon engages first operation cam 38,:(Fig. 7). Other than the. elevation of the respective cam follower rollers 83, 83, the operation of the two cams and cam rollers is identical. Lever 76 also carries an ear 86 through which extends a pin 87 which passes through the eye 88 at one end of a coil spring 89. The eye 91 at the other end of spring 89 is engaged by a pin 92 attached to lower housing 24. Spring 89 functions to insure engagement of cam fol lower roller 83 or 83 with its cam 37.

It will thus be seen that there is a solid leverage system comprising roller 51, pin 68, upper arm 66, shaft 54, lower arm 53 and seaming roll 41 or 42 and that the axis of shaft 54 is moved inwardly and outwardly by short lever 76 as the seaming cam followers 83 and 83 con tact first or second operation seaming earns 38 or 39. inequalities in the shape of can 11 being closed are absorbed in a torsional effect on the solid leverage system. Further, it will be seen that the resistance of the can and can end 11 and 12 to the work of seaming functions to force the followers 83 and 83 more closely against their respective cams 38 and 39.

v Occasionally, in order to check the proper functioning of the machine, it is desired to back off or disengage the second operation seaming roll 42 so as to enable the attendant to inspect the can and can end at the completion of the first seaming operation. For such purpose, as

shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the outer end of upper arm 66 is formed with a 180 horizontal slot 96. Pin 68 is actually an eccentric pin in that the central axis of the upper portion on which rollers 48 and 51 are mounted is slightly offset with respect to the central axis of the lower portion 97 which is received in the outer end of arm 66. A threaded adjustment pin 98 extends into a tapped hole in eccentric pin 97. When pin 98 is against the end of slot 96 in the position shown in Fig. 4, eccentric pin 97 is turned in such direction that the relationship of the second operation seaming roll 42 to the completed first operation seam is such as to permit the second seaming operation to be performed. By loosening the lock nut on pin 65, the eccentric pin 97 may be moved by pin 98 until pin 98 is against the opposite end of the slot 96. This changes the relationship at' the second operation seaming roll 42 so that it is moved away from the completed first operation seam sufficiently to discontinue performance of its normal function.

in operation, after can end 12 and. can 11 are. seated on chuck 13, the revolution of outer sleeve 28 relative to housing 23 causes cam roller 51 to follow the shape of cam 49, which shape is dependent upon the shape of can 11 being closed. Slave cam follower roller 48-insures engagement of roller 51 with cam 49. Inasmuch as there is a relative movement of 'outer sleeve 28 with respect to inner sleeve 27, follower rollers 83 and 83 are actuated by their engagement with first and second operation seaming cams 38 and 39, respectively. The function of cams 38 and 39 is to cause the first operation seaming roll 41 to engage the periphery of can end 12 until the first seaming operation is completed, then back oif the first seaming roll and then cause the second seaming roll 42 to engage the can rim until the closing of the can is completed, whereupon the second roll is backed. off. Lever 76 by reason of the eccentricity of axis 81 of shaft 54 relative to central axis 79 of fitting 76 causes the axis of shaft 54 to move in and out relative to spindle 16 and during the seaming operation the movement of seaming rolls 41 and 42 is gradually and positively controlled inwardly against the can at the point where roll 41 or 42 is in contact, so that as the seaming operation continues, the rolls are moved inwardly until the seaming operations are completed. The quality of the seam produced by the controlled inward movement of lever 76 is greatly improved over other seaming mechanisms.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can seaming head a first housing, a forming cam on said first housing, a spindle in said first housing, a chuck on one end of said spindle, a first sleeve about said spindle, a second sleeve about said first sleeve, drive means for turning said sleeves relative to said spindle and said sleeves relative to each other, a first operation seaming cam and a second operation seaming cam on said first sleeve, at least one first operation seaming roll and at least one second operation seaming roll, said rolls being positioned proximate said chuck, a shaft for each said roll, a first arm mounting each said roll on its respective shaft, a lever in which each said shaft is mounted, each said lever having at least two co-axial cylindrical bearing surfaces, said shaft being disposed parallel but eccentric to said bearing surfaces and located inside said surfaces a seaming cam follower on each said lever engaging one of said seaming cams and cooperable with one of said seaming cams to cause its respective roll to engage a can held on said chuck during a portion of the cycle of operation of the mechanism, a second housing on said second sleeve having complementary bearing surfaces in which said first-mentioned bearing surfaces of said lever are mounted, a second arm on each said shaft, a forming cam follower on said second arm engaging said forming cam and cooperable with said forming cam to cause its respective roll to conform to the shape of the can being seamed, and means associated with each said roll for moving its respective shaft continuously inward relative to said spindle as said roll revolves about said chuck during its seaming operation.

2. A seaming head according to claim 1 in which said forming cam comprises a principal cam and a slave cam and in which said forming cam follower engages said principal cam and in which is further provided a second forming cam follower on said second arm engaging said slave cam and maintaining said forming cam follower in continuous engagement with said principal cam.

3. A seaming head according to claim 1 in which is provided a pin on which said forming cam follower is rotatively mounted, said pin having a cylindrical portion remote from said forming cam follower, the axis of said cylindrical portion being eccentric to the axis about which said forming cam follower is mounted, said cylindrical portion being mounted on said second arm, and means for rotating said pin about said cylindrical portion to move said seaming roll toward and away from said chuck.

4. A seaming head according to claim 1 in which is pro-' vided av pin on which said forming cam follower is rotativelymounted, said pin having a cylindrical portion remote from said forming cam follower, the axis'of said cylindrical portion being eccentric to the axis about which said forming cam follower is mounted, said cylindrical portion being mounted on said second arm, said second arm being slotted transversely to said cylindrical portion in a slot having an arcuate length of approximately 180, said slot communicating with said cylindrical portion, an adjustment pin projecting transversely from said cylindrical portion through said slot, said adjustment pin being movable from a first position at one end of said slot to a second position at the other end of said slot to rotate said pin about'said cylindrical portion to move said seaming roll toward and away from said chuck.

5. In combination, a seaming roll, a shaft, a first arm mounting said roll, said first arm being mounted on said shaft, a second arm on said shaft, a cam follower roller, a pin mounting said cam follower roller, said pin having a cylindrical portion, the axis of said cylindrical portion being eccentric to the axis about which said roller is mounted, said cylindrical portion being mounted on said second arm, and means for rotating said cylindrical portion in said second arm between two fixed positions where by the axis of said roller is moved relative to the axis of said roll, one of said positions being an inoperative position whereby said roll is backed off from performing its seaming function and the other position being an operative position.

6. In combination, a seaming roll, a shaft, a first arm mounting said roll, said first arm being mounted on said shaft, asecond arm on said shaft, a cam follower roller, a pin mounting said cam follower roller, said pin having a cylindrical portion, the axis of said cylindrical portion being eccentric to the axis about which said roller is mounted, said cylindrical portion being mounted on said second arm, said second arm being formed with a slot transverse to the axis of said cylindrical portion and having an arcuate length of substantially 180", an adjustment pin on said pin extending transverse to said pin and extending out through said slot, said adjustment pin being movable from one end to the other of said slot to rotate said cylindrical portion in said second arm between two fixed positions whereby the axis of said roller is moved relative to the axis of said roll, one of said positions being an inoperative position whereby said roll is backed off from performing its seaming function and the other position beingan operative position.

7. In a can seaming head for seaming non-circular cans, a chuck, a seaming roll rotatable relative to said chuck, a first arm on which said seaming roll is mounted, a shaft on which said first arm is mounted, a lever in which said shaft is rotatively mounted, a housing in which said lever is rotatively mounted, means for rotating said housing relative to said chuck, a forming cam stationarily mounted relative to said chuck, means for imparting oscillatory motion to said shaft from said forming cam as said housing rotates about said chuck, a second cam, means for mounting said second cam and imparting rotative movement to said second cam relative to said forming cam, means for imparting oscillatory motion from said second cam to said lever to bring said seaming roll into and out of proximity to said chuck, said shaft being eccentric to the axis of said lever, whereby said shaft is moved relative to said chuck by said second cam.

8. A seaming head according to claim 8 in which said lever has a cylindrical portion rotatable in said housing,

said cylindrical portion having its axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of said shaft, said means for imparting'oscillatory motion to said lever moving the axis of said shaft toward and away from said chuck.

9. In a can seaming head, a seaming roll, a first arm on which Said seaming roll is mounted, a shaft clamped to said first arm, a seaming cam lever in which said shaft is rotatively mounted, said lever having at least two coaxial cylindrical bearing surfaces, said shaft being disposed parallel but eccentric to said bearing surfaces and located inside said bearing surfaces, a second arm clamped to said shaft, a forming cam follower on said second arm, means rotatively mounting said bearing surfaces of said seaming cam lever about an axis parallel to but eccentric to said shaft, a seaming cam follower on said seaming cam lever displaced both from said shaft and said axis, a forming cam engaging said forming cam follower, and a seaming cam engaging said seaming cam follower, said first and second arms when clamped to said shaft comprising a rigid structure, whereby the shape of said forming cam causes the path of said seaming roll to conform to a predetermined shape and the shape of said seaming cam moves said seaming roll inward in a controlled,

gradual movement to reduce the periphery of travel of said seaming roll as the seaming operation proceeds.

10. A seaming head according to claim 9 in which i said arms are on oppositeends of said shaft and on opposite sides of said seaming cam lever, said seaming cam follower being at a level intermediate said cylindrical bearing surfaces, whereby bearing loads are evenly distributed relative to said shaft and to said cylindrical bearing surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,496,246 Peyser June 3, 1924 1,578,426 Gordon Mar. 30, 1926 1,972,878 Erb Sept. 11, 1934 2,467,154 Peterson Apr. 12, 1949 2,711,706 Guefiroy June 28, 1955 

